Saffronisation of education is inevitable, if 'good for the nation' says Smriti Irani's deputy

Ram Shankar Katheria, the junior minister in Smriti Irani's education ministry, while addressing a function at the Lucknow University, has said that the Rashtryia Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) ideology of 'Saffronization' and 'Sanghwaad' will seep into the country's education system, if it proves to be 'good for the nation'.

"I am saying there will be saffronisation in education and in the country. Whatever is good will definitely take place. Be it saffronisation or 'sanghwad', if it's good for the country then it will definitely take place, Katheria said in Lucknow on Sunday.

Katheria was addressing a function at the Lucknow University to celebrate 'Hindvi Swaraj Diwas Samaroh' to mark the 342nd coronation year of Shivaji.

"We have been seeing this for a long time... Whatever is in the interest of the country, for the benefit of the country, on the basis of which the nation can stand with pride in the world, should it not be made part of the syllabus or should it not been taught to our children," he said.

The minister also attacked the ruling Samajawadi Party in Uttar Pradesh for state's "educational backwardness". "Uttar Pradesh is backward in all areas and zero in education," he said.

Katheria said people like Shivaji inspired India's independence. The minister also claimed that India's history had been "tailored" to suit the "tastes of a few people" and called it "India's greatest misfortune".

"If students do not read about Maharana Pratap or Shivaji, will they then read about Ghengis Khan," he asked.

He called seeing "sacrifices of national leaders" in a political light, "a growing disease" in the country.

"Ambedkar is seen as the personal property of one party, or of Dalits. In fact, Ambedkar is not just an ideal leader and nationalist for the country, but for the entire world," he said.

Remembering the contributions of leaders in the freedom struggle, Katheria said they lived their lives for humanity and welfare of the nation.